Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Hazards of the Bike Path Episode 22

Ripping up the path at high speed in the big ring, wait, what's that ahead?? FEEDERS

No worries in the water fowl safety dept. though: these are the relatives of Duck Dawkins, helmeted for safety.
They're being fed by a pair of humans obviously seeking to pad their karmic accounts
by ameliorating the life conditions of crested ducks, as advocated by the FALCCD.

When they are wide like this, with a yellow line down the middle, not too crowded, and peppered with scenes of beauty and wonder, I like the multi-use paths immensely. If they were crowded with cyclists, joggers, runners, strollers, and rollerbladers, I would feel differently, and choose to ride other routes, but when they are basically wide open, I prefer them to streets with cars.

Not for commuting, or at least not when I have to go fast for some reason, but for a leisurely spin, they have much to offer. And although I see the planners making slow progress, many of the best paths seem to go from nowhere to nowhere. Which is OK if you have nowhere to go at no particular time, not so good if you need to be somewhere at certain time, though. Where you're going, related to how you travel, and how you feel about that trip. By bike, down an easy MUP, with people feeding crested ducks, was exactly where I was going, how I traveled, and how I felt about the trip. Get up. Go ride.

4 comments:

Hey! ..that bridge looks sorta low for a cyclist! can riders put one of those helmeted ducks on their heads for extra protection when riding under low branches, bridges and the like? only fooling, nice looking trails!

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Let's Just Ride

I commute by bicycle in Phoenix, Arizona, a metropolis suited to riding bicycles of all types, with weather, mountains, roads, canals, and paths to keep me forever spinning. My favorite bike tools are an open mind, creative engagement, curiosity, compassion, common ground, and the search for knowledge.

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